Article holder

ABSTRACT

An article holder configured for one-handed operation includes an upper arm pivotally connected at one end to a lower arm such that the upper and lower arms having opposing inner surfaces. A cushion may be attached on an inner surface of either arm and a spring member disposed near the hinge may bias the inner surface of the lower arm toward the cushion to form a clamping surface in a rested state. A clip disposed on an outer surface of may be included to attach the holder to a desired surface. In certain embodiments, the lower arm includes a toe portion on an end opposite of the hinge which extends beyond a corresponding end of the upper arm to provide a leveraging surface to open the clamping body from the spring-biased clamping position. Additional embodiments and variants are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a device for holding personalarticles such as eyeglasses and the like. More particularly, but notexclusively, the present invention relates to a device that holdseyeglasses or sunglasses, pens, pencils or any other small object andclips. The device may be attached to any surface such as appliances,furniture, computers, clothing, clothing accessories and flat surfacessuch as automobile visors and books.

2. Background Art

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many people periodically wear eyeglasses and/or sunglasses. However, atcertain times, a wearer of eyeglasses or sunglasses (collectivelyreferred to herein as “glasses”) may wish to remove and store theirglasses for short periods when the glasses are not needed. For example,a wearer of sunglasses may remove them during evening hours whensunlight begins to fade. The wearer may typically remove them and placethem in a convenient location such as on the dashboard of the car, on anadjacent seat, in a cubbyhole or the like. These locations, whileconvenient, may subject the glasses to be susceptible to soiling, damageand/or loss. Consequently, there is a need for a holder of personalarticles, including glasses, which conveniently stores such items toprevent soiling, damage and/or loss.

Many attempts to provide such a holder have been made. For example, U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,134,753 and 5,794,312 to O'Mahony disclose holding devicesincluding a clip portion for attaching the holding device to a desiredsurface and a S-shaped or U-shaped portion for securing temples ofglasses.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,487 to Keely discloses a retainer for holdingeyeglasses that includes a retainer ring rotatably mounted to a clampingmeans. The clamping means secures the retainer to a desired surface,such as a automobile visor, while the retainer ring receives and securesthe temple portion of a pair of eyeglasses.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,476 to Mancinelli discloses a holder for securingeyeglasses to a visor including a body and a clip. The body receives thebridge of the eyeglasses with the temple bars of the glasses restingon-top of the body. The clip is disposed on a portion of the body andforms a flexible clamp for securing the holder to a visor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,459 to Goldenberg discloses a clip for securingeyeglasses or sunglasses that slides onto an article of clothing. Theclip is similar to a conventional money clip but has an elastic materialto create a channel for receiving a temple of a pair of glasses.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,003 to Chan discloses a personal article holderhaving a clamping body and a visor clip. And U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,432 toKushner, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a personalarticle holder having a clamping body and a display window disposed onthe clamping body for displaying desired images.

While these and other known retainers and holders for glasses and otherarticles may provide effective for protecting such items against loss,damage or soiling, they may have drawbacks such as requiring two handsto insert an article into the respective holder, not securely holding anarticle once inserted into the holder, damaging an article inserted intothe holder, and/or consisting of intricate, expensive and potentiallydelicate parts.

An improved article holder which alleviates one or more of thesedrawbacks is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of the invention inreference to the appended drawing in which like numerals denote likeelements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an article holder in a closed or clampedposition according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the article holder of FIG. 1 in an openposition;

FIG. 3 is perspective and expanded view of disassembled pieces of thearticle holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled personal article holderaccording to various embodiments; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article holder clipped to a surfaceand holding an article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article holder 100 according to oneembodiment of the invention may include: a clamping body 110 configuredto secure an article and an attachment portion 105 attached to clampingbody 110 and configured to secure clamping body 110 to a desiredsurface. In this exemplary embodiment, clamping body 110 may generallyinclude an upper arm member 115 hingedly connected on one end to a lowerarm member 120. The upper and lower arm members 115, 120 may bepivotally connected to one another and include a tension member to biasopposing surfaces of the upper and lower arm members toward each otherto a closed or clamping position as shown in FIG. 1. The tension biasesholder 100 to the closed position in its natural state of rest.

In one embodiment, the upper or lower arm members 120, 115 may include asoft cushion member 130 disposed on an inside surface which serves togently secure an inserted article between opposing surfaces of upper andlower arm members 115 and 120.

In certain embodiments cushion member 120 may be glued or otherwiseattached to the upper arm member 115. The attachment portion 105 issecured to upper arm member 115, opposite the side of its respectivecushion member 130 for attaching to a desired surface such as a carvisor, clothing, refrigerator, or other surface.

In preferred embodiments, lower arm member 120 may be longer than upperarm member 115 such that a toe 124 of lower arm member 120 extendsoutward from article holder 100, past a corresponding end of upper armmember 115. In this manner, toe 124 of lower arm member 120 may serve asa leveraging surface to open article holder 100 from a clamped positionwith the same hand being used to insert an article for holding. Toe 124may also serve as a guide for certain articles to be held as discussedbelow with reference to FIG. 5.

In one non-limiting embodiment, an inner surface of lower arm member 120may include one or more securing mechanisms 122 for securing articlesfrom slipping out from between upper and lower arm members 115 and 120when they are in a clamped position (FIG. 1). Securing mechanisms 122may include one or more notches or ribs, and/or non-slip surfaces asdiscussed with respect to the embodiments shown in reference to FIGS.3-5. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, securing mechanisms122 may consist of one or more notches which may assist in preventingtemples of glasses, writing utensils or other orthogonally placedelements from incidentally slipping out of the grasp of article holder100.

Turning to FIG. 3, an embodiment for an article holder 300 is similar tothat previously discussed. FIG. 3 shows respective pieces of articleholder 300 in a disassembled manner. It can be seen in this embodimentthat upper and lower arm members 315 and 312 respectively include hingeaxis members 313 and 323 on like ends which when coupled by a pivot orpin 311 allow the upper and lower arm members 315 and 320 to rotate withrespect to one another about an axis. When a tension member such asspring 312 is coupled about the axis formed by pin 311, the innersurfaces of upper and lower arm members 315 and 320 may be biasedagainst each other in a clamping or closed position as shown in FIG. 4.

It should be recognized that instead of pin 311, alternative types ofpivoting couplings could be used such as one or more collars andcorresponding protrusions formed in hinge axis members 313 and 323.Additionally, various types of tension members other than spring 312could be used and thus the inventive embodiments are not limited to thespecific arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the article holder of FIG. 3 in anassembled and natural state; that is, biased to a clamped or closedposition. As with other embodiments, lower arm member 320 issignificantly longer than opposing upper arm member 315 which forms anextending toe 324. A key advantage of the article holders of theinventive embodiments is derived by the extending toe 324 and pivotingspring-biased action in that a user wishing to insert an article caneasily manipulate toe 324 in a position away upper arm member 315 (i.e.,to open holder 300 from a clamped position) with a single hand that isholding the article to be inserted. For example, a user holding anarticle to be stowed may use the back of their thumb to leverage lowerarm 320 downward while inserting the article with other fingers betweencushion member 330 and securing surface 322. When downward pressure onlower arm member 330 is released, lower arm member 320 returns to theclamped position via bias from spring 312.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in thatit includes a securing mechanism 322 formed from a rubber, foam rubberor other type of non-slip surface instead of notches. In certainembodiments, securing mechanism 322 is a substantially flat foam rubbercushion insert placed in a recessed surface of the lower arm member in amanner that the inner surface of the lower arm member, including foamrubber insert, is substantially flush. In this manner, an article mayinserted between cushion member 330 and foam rubber insert 322 by merelysliding the article along the upper surface of lower arm member 330 whenpressure is placed down on the lower arm member. Subsequently, whenpressure is released from lower arm member 330, the article will notinadvertently slip out.

Cushion members 130, 330 may be any material suitable to gently securean article between the upper and lower arm members in the clampedposition. In certain embodiments, cushion members 130, 330 may be madeof a foam rubber material and fixed or removably attached to one or bothupper and lower arm members in any manner for one material to be securedto another, e.g., snaps, adhesive, VELCRO, etc. In one embodiment, anoversized cushion member 130, 330 is fixed to the interior surface ofthe lower arm member using an adhesive.

Upper arm members 115, 315 and lower arm members 120, 320 of theclamping body may be made from any rigid material rigid such as rigidplastics, ceramics, metals, woods or any combination thereof. In oneembodiment, upper and lower arms are formed in an injection mold usingan ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadience-Styrene) plastic material, which may betinted or colored to achieve a desired color. ABS plastics are used inpreferred embodiments since they are relatively inexpensive, possesshigh strength and durability material characteristics and readily acceptplating and painting to vary appearance and design of the device.

The clamping body may be formed in using elongated single upper andlower arm member to obtain any desired shape such as a circle, an oval,a rectangle, a square, a trapezoid or any other symmetrical orasymmetrical shape and may be any size or color desired. However, incertain embodiments, lower arm member 120, 320 may be formed in ascoop-like shape. The scoop-like shape allows the toe 124, 324 of lowerarm member 120, 320 to be easily leveraged away from upper arm member115, 315 as well as acting as a guide member for certain articles.Additionally, when article holder 100, 300 is clipped to a horizontalsurface such as an automobile visor, scoop-like shape may help preventan article which in not fully secured, or may become inadvertentlydislodged, from falling entirely.

Attachment portion 105, 305 of the respective embodiments may be anymechanism or arrangement for facilitating temporary or permanentfixation of the clamping body to other surfaces. Examples of attachmentportion 105, 305 include a clip, a magnet, VELCRO™, a suction cup,double sided tape, etc. In one embodiment, attachment portion 105, 305is a tensioned wire attached to a side of upper arm member 115, 315opposite the side having cushion member 130, 330 similar to, but notlimited to, the example shown in FIGS. 1-5. With this arrangement,holder 10 may be utilized as a bookmark by clipping a desired portion ofa book between wire 105, 305 and upper arm member 115, 315. In anotherembodiment attachment portion 35 is a segment of double-sided tape (notshown) having one side adhere to the clamping body and readilyattachable to a desired surface, such as a computer monitor, using theadhesive opposite side.

FIG. 5 illustrates article holder 300 in use. As shown, article holder300 may be attached to a surface 501 such as a sun visor in anautomobile using attachment portion 305. In this example, article holder300 is shown securing glasses 570 securely between upper and lower armmembers 315, 320.

Unless contrary to physical possibility, the inventor envisions thecomponents of respective embodiments may be combined in any manner.

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications are possible and theembodiments described herein are not limited by the specific disclosureabove, but rather should be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An article holder comprising: a clamping body comprising: an upperarm member having a first width; a lower arm member having a secondwidth substantially similar to the first width of the upper arm member;a pivot connecting one end of the lower ann member to a correspondingend of the upper arm member; a cushion attached on an inner surface ofthe upper arm member; and a spring member disposed within the clampingbody to constantly bias an inner surface of the lower arm member towardthe cushion to form a clamping surface in a rested state, the clampingbody devoid of a latch mechanism; and a clip connected to an outersurface of the clamping body to attach the clamping body to a desiredsurface; wherein the upper arm and lower arm members are formed of aninjection molded plastic and wherein the lower arm member includes a toeportion on an end opposite of the pivot, the toe portion extendingsubstantially beyond a corresponding end of the upper arm member andformed to have the inner surface of the lower ann member provide aleveraging surface to open the clamping body from the clamping position.2. The article holder of claim 1 further comprising a securing mechanismformed on one or both of the inner surfaces of the upper or lower armmembers.
 3. The article holder of claim 2 wherein the securing mechanismcomprises one or more notches formed in the inner surface of the lowerarm member.
 4. The article holder of claim 2 wherein the securingmechanism comprises a non-slip surface material disposed on the innersurface of the lower arm member at a position opposing the cushionresiding on the inner surface of the upper arm member.
 5. The articlebolder of claim 1 wherein the lower arm member including the toe portionis formed in a scoop-like shape between its respective ends.
 6. A holderfor supporting and securing objects comprising: an upper arm memberhaving a first width and having a cushion member disposed on a bottomsurface thereof; a lower ann member having a second width substantiallysimilar to the first width of the upper arm member, the lower arm memberfurther having a cushion insert disposed on a top surface thereof, thelower arm member having an end hingedly attached to a corresponding endof the upper arm member such that the upper and lower arm members form aclamping body wherein the cushion member and cushion insert face oneanother to secure an article there between when said upper and lower armmembers are in a closed position, the clamping body devoid of any latchmechanism; a tension member disposed proximate the hingedly attachedends of the upper and lower arm members to constantly bias the upper andlower arm members toward the closed position in a state of rest; and anattachment portion disposed on an outer surface of the clamping body,the attachment portion arranged to attach the bolder to a desiredsurface.
 7. The holder of claim 6 wherein said upper and lower armmembers are at least partially composed of an injection molded plastic.8. The holder of claim 6 wherein an end of the lower arm member oppositethe hingedly attached end protrudes farther outward than a correspondingend of the upper arm member to form a lever in which pressure may beapplied on the top surface of the lower arm member to open the holderfrom the constantly closed position.
 9. The holder of claim 7 whereinthe too surface of the lower arm member is formed of the injected moldedplastic and including a recess, the holder further comprising a secondcushion insert positioned within the recess a manner that the secondcushion insert is substantially flush with the top surface of the lowerarm member.
 10. The holder of claim 6 wherein the attachment portioncomprises one of a segment of double-sided tape; a magnet; a clip; or ahook.
 11. The holder of claim 6 wherein the lower arm member is longerthan the upper arm member and is formed in a scoop-like shape to enablea user to leverage the holder from the tension member-biased closedposition to an open position for insertion of an article.
 12. The holderof claims 6 wherein both the cushion member and opposing cushion insertare formed of a foam rubber material.
 13. A holder of personal articlescomprising: an elongate first arm having a first width; an elongatesecond arm having a second width substantially similar to the firstwidth, the second arm hingedly attached at one end thereof to acorresponding end of the first arm in a manner that the first arm andsecond arm have substantially opposing inner surfaces, the first andsecond arms devoid of any latching mechanism; a cushion member disposedon at least one of the opposing inner surfaces of the first or secondarms; and a spring disposed near the hingedly attached ends of the firstand second arms to bias the inner opposing surfaces toward one anotherto a closed position such that an article may be clamped between thecushion member and an opposite arm, the spring member being positionedwithin the second arm to substantially concealed from external view; anda clip attached to an outer surface of one of the first or second arms.14. The holder of claim 13 wherein the holder includes two cushionmembers, a first large cushion disposed on the opposing inner surface ofthe first arm and a smaller flat cushion disposed on the inner surfaceof the second arm.
 15. The holder of claim 13 wherein one of the firstor second arms includes a notch on its respective opposing inner surfaceto assist in securing articles disposed between the notch and thecushion member.
 16. The holder of claim 13 wherein one of the first orsecond arms is longer than the other and formed in a scoop-like shape toenable a user to apply pressure on an inner surface of an extending endof the longer arm to leverage the holder from the closed position to anopen position.
 17. The holder of claim 13 wherein the first and secondarms are composed of injection molded plastic.
 18. The holder of claim13 wherein the cushion member is composed of a foam rubber material. 19.The holder of claim 16 wherein the clip is configured to be attachableto an automobile sun visor.
 20. The holder of claim 13 furthercomprising an axial pin to hingedly attach the first arm to the secondarm.